SEC Thursday baseball recap: Mississippi State wins a wild one, Arkansas takes series lead on LSU, more

The SEC opened Week Five of conference play with five games. 

Mississippi State “walks off” Auburn in Starkville

Auburn closer Blake Burkhalter walked Luke Hancock with the bases loaded in the ninth, as Mississippi State came from behind to knock off the Tigers, 7-6, at Dudy-Noble Field on Friday evening. 

Auburn led a back-and-forth game by a run heading into the bottom of the ninth, but a crucial error by second baseman Cole Foster on a potential double-play ball gave MSU life. An intentional walk to RJ Yeager loaded the bases before a wild pitch scored Kellum Clark with the tying run before Hancock took a 3-2 pitch for the win.

MSU starter Brandon Smith allowed two runs in five innings, but didn’t strike anyone out. Parker Stinnett picked up a win but a scoreless (but eventful) ninth. Yeager and Brad Cumbest each homered for the Bulldogs (20-15, 5-8 Southeastern Conference).

Foster and Nate LaRue both homered for Auburn (23-11, 7-6).

Moore leads Arkansas past LSU

Second baseman Robert Moore’s two-RBI single in the seventh was large as Arkansas (26-7, 9-4) topped LSU (23-10, 7-6) in Fayetteville on Friday night.

Razorback starter Connor Noland (6 IP, 3 R, 7 K) was solid and Brady Tygart (2 IP, 0 R, 1K) picked up the save as LSU failed to get an extra-base hit. Braylen Webb also knocked in a pair of runs for Arkansas

LSU got a good start from Ma’Khail Hilliard (5 IP, 1 ER, 4 Ks) while third baseman Jacob Berry had a pair of his and two RBIs. 

DeLucia pitches Rebels past Gamecocks

Ole Miss got a much-needed 7 2/3-inning, one-run start from Dylan DeLucia in its 9-1 hammering of South Carolina (16-17, 4-9) in Columbia on Thursday evening. 

The Rebels hammered Gamecock starter Aidan Hunter for seven runs (all earned) in three innings. TJ McCants and Reagan Burford each homered for Ole Miss (21-12, 5-8), which also got three hits and an RBI from center fielder Justin Bench. 

Dettmer shines as Aggies handle Georgia

Nathan Dettmer threw eight innings without allowing an earned run while fanning nine as Texas A&M (21-12, 7-6) whipped Georgia (25-9, 8-5) in College Station. 

The Aggies plated six runs against Georgia’s Nolan Crisp and Garrett Brown in the first five innings and coasted from there. Troy Claunch and Dylan Rock homered as Rock drove in four runs. 

Right fielder Cole Wagner led Georgia with three hits. The Bulldogs were without normal Friday starter Jonathan Cannon, who’s out due to injury. 

Estep, ‘Cats hammer Missouri

Kentucky’s Chase Estep had two homers, a single and five RBIs as the Wildcats (21-13, 5-8) went to Missouri (19-12, 3-10) and won the first game of the series. 

The Wildcats had 22 hits, four belonging to Daniel Harris IV, who also homered. Hunter Jump, Jacob Plastiak, Ryan Church and John Thrasher also had three hits. Kentucky hit Missouri starter Spencer Miles hard (5 IP, 12 H, 8 ER).

Missouri’s Torin Montgomery homered and drove in three, while Fox Leum added a solo shot. 

Mason Hazelwood (5 IP, 4 ER, 5 K) got the win and Ryan Hagenow (4 IP, 2 ER, 4 Ks) got the save.